Drying-machine.



c. CROUCH & e. 1. HEWLETT.

DRYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men SEPT. 9. 1916.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. CROUCH & G. J. HEWLETT. DRYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-9.1916- 1,250,980.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

, a SHEETSSHEEf 2. Jig. 2.

c. CROUCH & e. 1. HEWLETT.

. DRYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 9, I916- Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

CLAYTON CROUCH AND GEORGE J. HEWLETT, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

DRYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented De 25 1917.

Application filed September 9, 1916. Serial No. 119,173.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CLAYTON CROUCH and Gnonon J. HEWLETT, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, Ohio, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in drying machines, the present embodiment being particularly designed and adapted for use in the drying or desiccating of natural or industrial substances which, when moist or warm, are of the sticky or pitchy nature.

The invention relates more particularly to that class or type in which a rotary drum is employed together with improved means for conducting the material to be treated and the drying fluid or agent through said rotary drum in opposite directions. In carrying out the invention we also provide a jacketed drum together with improved gland bearing heads communicating with the j acketed portion of the drum and improved means for controlling the flow of fluid through said gland bearing heads and the jacketed portion of said drum, the ends of the rotary drum being closed by means of stationary drum heads through which the material to be treated together with the drying fluid is introduced.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a generally improved drying machine for the purposes above indicated which will be exceedingly simple in construction, cheap of manufacture, and efficient in use.

WVith the above mentioned and other ends in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in one of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1, is a side elevation, partly in section, of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2, an end elevation of the delivery end thereof.

Fig. 3, an end view of the opposite or feed end thereof.

Fig. 4, an enlarged end elevation of the feed head or end of the machine, the feed hopper and fluid or air suction boot being removed for the purpose of clearer illustration of the stationary drum feed or head and the gland bearing head and the fluid conduits leading from the latter to the jacketed portion of the drum.

F 1g. 5, a central vertical section of the same taken On line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6, an end view of the delivery end of the machine, the supporting brackets and gearing being removedfor the purpose of clearer illustration of the parts.

Fig. 7, a central vertical sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 6.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.

The improved drier comprises a rotary fluid jacketed drum 1, and in order to preserve the heat as against undue radiation from the annular fluid or steam chamber 1*, the outer or surrounding wall l, is surrounded by a suitable layer of heat insulation 1, the latter, in the present instance, being surrounded by a metallic covering or shell 1.

As a means of constantly supplying the chamber or jacketed portion 1 of the drum with a suitable supply of fluid such as steam, or the like, as well as controllingand regu lating the supply of the fluid to the fluid or steam chamber 1, at a substantially predetermined temperature during the rotation of the drum 1, gland bearing heads 2, are provided, said heads 2, communicating with the annular fluid chamber 1" of the drum through the medium of suitable fluid conduits 3, and 3*", said fluid conduits 3, and 3 in the present instance, being in the form of inlet and outlet conduit pipes 3, and 3, extending across the ends of the rotary drum and suitably connected with the gland heads 2, and the surrounding wall l of the drum. The gland bearing heads 2, are provided with annular fluid conducting portions 2 terminating in radially extending portions 2", the latter communicating at all times with similarly shaped conducting portions 4 communicating With annular fluid or gland duct 4 of stationary gland bearing heads 4.

The gland heads 2, and 4, are provided with a. suitable intervening packing 5, the latter being retained in position by means of suitable gland or packing rings 5 secured in position by means of suitable tap screws 5".

The fluid or steam may be conducted from a suitable source of supply to the jacketed or annular chambered portion of the drum through the medium of a suitable conduit or inlet pipe 6, leading to one of the gland bearing heads 2, and is thence conducted through the fluid conduit 3, through the annular fluid chamber 1 toward the opposite end of the drum.

As a means of conducting or discharging the water resulting from the condensation of the steam in the chamber 1 and constantly flowing down into the lower portion of the annular chamber 1 of the drum, and particularly as a means of intermittently trapping such water into fluid outlet conduits 3, during such lower position of the revolution and automatically closing such outlet conduits during the other portion of their revolution to prevent the escape of steam therethrough, the fluid conduits 3, are provided about the outer periphery of the drum with automatic or gravity operated valves 7, said valves 7, in the present instance, comprising a suitable valve in each outlet conduit operated by means of a lever 7 connected to a link 7 the latter being connected to a weighted lever 7, said lever 7', being pivotally mounted on a supporting bracket 7 and as a. means of regulating the sensitive ness of the operation of the lever 7 one end of the lever 7, may be connected to a coiled expansion spring 7 connected to the supporting bracket 7 the spring 7 being adjustably connected to the curved end of the lever 7, through the medium of a series of holes 7 and for a similar purpose the weights on the lever 7 may be adjusted longitudinally in a well known and understood manner.

When the water of a condensation is flowing out or trapped into the outlet conduit 3, in its lowermost position by the opening of the gravity operated valve 7, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 5, of the drawings, as such luid conduit and the valve connected therewith is moved a short distance in its initial upward movement the valve will be automatically closed thus preventing the outlet of steam therethrough and permitting the water trapped therein to thereafter pass downwardly through the outlet conduit 3*, toward the gland bearing head 2, the water passing through the fluid conduit portions 2, and 2 thereof and through the fluid conducting portions 4:, and r", of the stationary gland bearing head 4, from whence itpasses out through the drip conduit pipe 8, and may be conducted through a trapped outlet pipe to any point desired.

The feed or material receiving end of the rotary drum 1, is closed by means of a stationary drum head 9 and the delivery end thereof by means of a drum head 10. As a means of providing for the discharge of the material as well as the inlet of the drying fluid or air as drawn through the drum end over the material being treated as hereinafter described, the head 10, is provided with a recessed portion 10 forming a port or discharge opening for the material passing through the rotary drum 1, the area of such opening 10 being adapted to be decreased or increased by means of a plate 10 overlapping a portion of the opening 10 and being adj ustably connected through the medium of bolts 10, mounted in suitable slots 10 As a means of mounting the head 10, and particularly as a means of circumferentially adjusting the same for changing the position of the opening 10 to increase or decrease the resistance offered to the discharge of the material through the opening 10 a sleeve 11 is mounted within the adjacent bearing head 2, said sleeve terminating in flanged head 11 to which the head 10, is secured, and as a means of controlling or shifting the sleeve 11, and attached head 10, to any desired position, the outer end of the sleeve is provided with a quadrant 12, keyed thereon, said quadrant having its upper curved portion bearing against a bracket 13, and being adjustably connected to the latter by means of securing bolts 13, passing through openings 12 in the quadrant.

The bracket 13, is secured, in the present instance, to the inlet pipe 6, leading to the gland bearing head 4, it being obvious that such construction will enable the head 10, and discharge opening 10, to be readily shifted to one side or other to retard the discharge of the treated material and the passage of the air through the opening 10, and if desired, the outer periphery of the head 10 may be provided with a wear ring 10 to bear against the inner surface of the drum 1, during the revolution of the latter and form a close joint.

The stationary drum head 9, at the material receiving end of the machine, is provided at one side with an inlet opening 9 for the inlet of the material to be treated as discharged therethrough by the means hereinafter described, and the head 9, is further provided at one side with a second opening 9 (see Fig. 4:) for the outlet or passage of the air or treating fluid after being drawn therethrough by the suction device communicating with the opening 9 and the interior of the drum through the medium of a suitable suction pipe or boot 14:.

The material to be treated is received in the hopper 15, and is discharged therefrom and through the opening 9 through the medium of a. screw conveyer 16, carried by a shaft 16, said shaft 16 being provided with a pinion 16 meshing with a gear wheel 17, of the main conveyer shaft 18. The shaft 18, is mounted in suitable bearings 19 at opposite ends of the rotary drum 1, said bearings being mounted on suitable bearing posts or supporting columns 20, so that the shaft 18, is supported centrally or axially of the rotary drum 1, the conveyer shaft being provided at suitable intervals with a serie of suitably inclined conveyer blades 18, adapted to be revolved at a different rate of speed than the surrounding drum 1, and as the latter may be of considerable length the intermediate portions of the conveyer shaft may be supported at suitable intervals by means of suitable shaft supporting spiders 18 The head 9 may be supported by being attached to the feed hopper 15, and the air suction pipe 14, as for example-by rivets passing through rivet openings 9 (see Fig. 4) formed about the openings 9% and 9 in the head 9, the hopper 15 being supported on the adjacent and supporting column or bracket 20 as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, of the drawings.

As a means of driving the rotary drum 1,.

and the conveyer shaft 18, the latter is provided at one end with a gear 21, meshing with a pinion 22, the latter being mounted on a driving shaft 23, said shaft 23, being mounted in the adjacent supporting bracket or column 20, and a third bearing post or column 24. The driving shaft 23, is provided with fixed and loose pulleys 24, and 25, adapted to carry a belting communicating with a suit-able source of power, and as a means of transmitting motion from the conveyer shaft 18, to the rotary drum 1, said shaft 18, may be provided with a sprocket wheel 26, carrying a sprocket chain 27, leading over a second sprocket wheel 28, the latter being mounted on a shaft 29, mounted in suitable bearings 30, said shaft 29, being provided with a pinion 31, meshing with a gear ring 32, secured to and surrounding the rotary drum 1.

As a means of properly supporting and carrying the weight of the drum 1, and the material therein, during the rotation of the drum the latter is provided with suitably spaced bearing rings 33, adapted to travel upon bearing rollers 34:, the latter being mounted on suitable shafts 35, carried in suitable bearings 36, supported on transversely extending bars or supports 37 As a means of preventing longitudinal movement of the drum 1, during its rotation, a pair of rollers or wheels 38, may be mounted on opposite sides of one of the bearing rings 33, to receive the latter and hold the same as against the longitudinal movement of the drum during rotation.

As a means of carrying away the treated material after being discharged through the discharge opening 10 of the head 10, a transversely extending trough 39, may be provided, said trough being equipped with screw conveyer 10, driven through the medium of a gear 41, and bevel pinion 42*, (see Fig. l) the latter being mounted on a shaft 42, carried in suitable bearings and driven by sprocket wheel #13, carrying the sprocket chain at, leading to a second sprocket wheel 15 on the main or power driving shaft 23.

From the foregoing description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation and advantages of our invention will be readily understood.

Having thus described one of the embodiments of this invention, what we claim and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. In a drying machine, a rotary fluid jacketed drum provided with gland bearing "heads communicating therewith, and gravity operated means for intermittently opening and closing communication between one of said gland bearing heads and said fluid jacketed drum.

2. In a drying machine, a rotary fluid jacketed drum provided with axially located gland bearing heads, fluid inlet and outlet pipes connecting the latter with the jacketed portion of said. drum, and gravity operated valves in said fluid outlet pipes for trapping liquid therethrough from the lower portion of said drum.

3. In a drying machine, a rotary fluid jacketed drum, gland bearing heads connected thereto and communicating therewith by means of fluid inlet and outlet pipes, and means in said fluid outlet pipes for lntermittently opening the same during the lower portion of the revolution of said drum for the discharge of liquid therefrom.

4. In a drying machine, a rotary fluid jacketed drum, axially located gland bearing heads, fluid conduits communicating between said heads and the jacketed portion of said drum, a conveyer carried by said gland hearing heads, and gravity operated means in some of said conduits for intermittently trapping and discharging liquid from said fluid jacketed drum.

5. In a drying machine, a revoluble jacketed drum, gland bearing heads communicating with the jacketed portion of said drum, drum heads, means for controlling the flow of fluid through said gland bearing heads and the jacketed portion of said drum, gravity operated means for trapping liquid out of the latter at regular intervals of revolution, and mechanical and suction creating means for conducting material and drying fluid through the interior of said drum in opposite directions, respectively.

6. A drying machine, comprising a revoluble fluid jacketed drum, stationary heads, gland bearing heads, fluid conduits communicating between said bearing heads and said drum, gravity operated means in some of said fluid conduits for trapping liquid out of the lower portion of said drum at regular intervals, a conveyer shaft in said gland bearing heads, means for revolving said shaft and drum, and mechanical and suction creating means for conveying the material to be dried and the drying fluid through said stationary heads in opposite directions through said drum, respectively.

7. In a drying machine, the combination *ith a rotatably mounted drum provided at one end With a stationary head, and material feeding and fluid exhaust mechanism communicating therewith through said head; of a circumferentially movable head in the opposite end of said drum provided with a material discharge and fluid inlet opening, and means for moving and adjusting said head and opening to one side or the other to increase or decrease the resistance offered to the passage of the material and fluid therethrough.

8. In a drying machine, a rotatablymounted fluid jacketed drum, axially located gland bearing heads, fluid inlet and outlet conduit pipes connecting the latter with the acketed portion of said drum, a conveyer provided with a driving shaft carried by said gland bearing reads, stationary gland bearing members supporting said gland bearing heads, fluid inlet and outlet passages connecting said gland bearing members and heads at opposite ends of said drum, means for discharging liquid through said fluid outlet conduit pipes during a portion of the revolving of sald drum, and means for driving Copies of this patent may be obtained for said drum and conveyer at different rates of speed.

9. In a drying machine, a rotatably mountwith a mate ial discharging and fluid inlet opening in its lower portion, and means for supporting and circumferentially moving and adjusting said head and opening to one side or the other whereby to increase the resistance offered to the passage of material and drying fluid therethrough.

In testimony whereof We have affixed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

CLAYTON CROUCH. GEO. J. HEWLETT.

Witnesses M. E. ACKERMAN, R. F. CALKINs.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

